Who could step in to handle the trilogy-closing installment of the big budget Iron Man film franchise and take charge of a powerful cast including Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson and undoubtedly, many more stars? According to the latest reports, it could be writer/actor/director Shane Black, who we didn’t initially include in our proposed list of potential Iron Man 3 directors.

While some already show concern for the film due to Favreau’s departure, which some speculate has to do with Marvel’s forceful hand about characters and story of Iron Man 3, the major saving grace of Shane Black directing – should he be chosen – is that he’s worked with star Robert Downey Jr. before. Black wrote and directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the amazing, yet underrated action-comedy which helped re-launch the career of Downey Jr.

The report explains that Black is but one of the candidates Marvel Studios is looking at, but if he climbs on board he would likely help pen the script as well as taking the director’s chair. Black is most well-known for his work on all four films of the Lethal Weapon franchise but his only directorial gig to date was with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Black’s work consists of action-comedy-thrillers which meshes well with the lighter tone of the Iron Man franchise and his previous experience working with Robert Downey Jr. should help him be a legitimate top contender for the job. The studio took a chance with Favreau when they chose him to handle the first Iron Man and I’m for the idea of giving that same chance to Shane Black.